Gallery
Delightful old pictures show Thetford through the decades
Walkers wend their way through breckland on saturday during the annual 24 mile Thetford Chase Walk, 4th April, 1993. Picture: Archant library - Credit: Archant
Take a trip down memory lane with our fabulous photographic celebration of East Anglian life through the decades. Today we take a nostalgic look back at the market town of Thetford, situated 28 miles south west of Norwich.
Despite it’s reputation as a modern town grown out of a council initiative to relocate people and businesses from London to Norfolk, Thetford is rich in history and has some strong links to some of history’s most influential and interesting figures.
The roots of the town can be traced back to pre-Roman times and Iceni warrior Queen Boudica was believed to have lived there and to have used it as her base to plan her battle to overthrow the Romans.
Thomas Paine, born in 1737, attended Thetford Grammar School, before going to America where he wrote Rights of Man and Age of Reason and became very active in the American and French Revolutions,
Controversial Indian prince Duleep Singh, the last Sikh Maharajah of the Pubjab, lived at Elveden Hall during the 19th century,
You may also want to watch:
And, of course, Thetford was a major manufacturing centre for Charles Burrell’s steam traction engines in the 1800s, making what was regarded as the Rolls Royce of the steam industry until the 1920s.
Copies of the images featured in this story are available to buy via our photo sales website or alternatively can be ordered by phone on 01603 772449.
Most Read
- 1 Police continue probe into murder of woman at country park
- 2 Brandon man handed three-year restraining order by judge
- 3 12 villages set to receive some of UK's fastest ever broadband
- 4 'Thank you for everything' - How Norfolk marked Duke of Edinburgh's funeral
- 5 Coronation Street star's surprise message to Norfolk care team
- 6 WATCH: Delighted Delia Smith leads Canaries fans in Emi Buendia sing song
- 7 Norfolk attractions enjoy 'amazing' Saturday as visitors flood back
- 8 Woman found dead in country park is named
- 9 Woman, 73, convicted of forging second deceased partner's will
- 10 Father-of-five in court accused of murdering wife after body found in country park pond